Jurors shown nude videos in Bracone trial

Paul L. Bracone Jr. shifted restlessly in his seat as he watched relatives and former friends testify against him Wednesday, the second day of his trial.

By Meghan Millea

Times Reporter

By Meghan Millea

Posted Sep. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 12, 2013 at 12:04 PM

By Meghan Millea

Posted Sep. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 12, 2013 at 12:04 PM

NEW PHILADELPHIA

Paul L. Bracone Jr. shifted restlessly in his seat as he watched relatives and former friends testify against him Wednesday, the second day of his trial.

The 51-year-old Dennison man was arrested in March 2011 after admitting hiding a surveillance camera below his ex-girlfriend’s bathroom sink, as well as growing and using marijuana.

Now, he is on trial for voyeurism, taking nude videos of a minor, pandering obscenity (child pornography) and cultivating and possessing marijuana. He faces up to 12.5 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Bracone has maintained that he never intended to use the surveillance camera for anything other than to prove that his ex-girlfriend was using cocaine, and that he has never been interested in seeing nude minors or child pornography.

In opening statements, Bracone’s attorney Mark Perlaky had asked jurors to keep an open mind. He said Bracone has fixed computers for several friends, and also was concerned that if his ex-girlfriend’s alleged drug activities were discovered, a police investigation would find his marijuana-growing operation.

On Wednesday, the prosecution called several witnesses and showed jurors graphic videos of child pornography found on Bracone’s computer.

Prosecutors also presented video clips taken by his hidden surveillance camera of a nude preteen girl getting in and out of the shower in the apartment. It will be up to jurors to determine if any of the bathroom images are pornographic.

Tuscarawas County Assistant Prosecutor Patrick Williams asked Bracone’s ex-girlfriend to testify about the incidents taking place in March of 2011.

She burst into tears as she identified her preteen daughter in more than 20 of those video clips. She testified that she had no knowledge of the camera until a relative of Bracone’s told her there was a nude thumbnail video of the woman on Bracone’s computer.

“He was my best friend,” she said. “We had a really close relationship, not romantically involved — just friends.”

Bracone even allowed her to live rent-free in one of his apartments after she had lost her home.

After being told about the thumbnail video, she said she “freaked out” and rushed home. Her son and boyfriend found the hidden camera.

Dennison Police Officer Matt Grezlik responded to her call and confiscated the surveillance camera. Grezlik said he obtained a search warrant for Bracone’s home, where he seized all of Bracone’s computers and marijuana.

Grezlik’s videotaped interview with Bracone also was shown to jurors. In it, Bracone said he used the surveillance camera because he wanted to catch his ex-girlfriend in the act of using cocaine. Grezlik then asked him why he would position the camera where he did, facing the shower.

“I was going to put it right above the sink,” Bracone replied. “That’s what I should have done.”

Page 2 of 2 -
Following the interview, Grezlik said Bracone showed police the apartment containing 25 marijuana plants, the majority of his growing operation.

Officers sent his computers and marijuana to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing. BCI forensic computer analyst JoAnn Gibb testified Wednesday that she recovered 163 videos taken in the ex-girlfriend’s bathroom. Gibb said 132 of the 163 videos showed nudity as the apartment’s occupants used the bathroom or shower.

She also testified she found child pornography on the confiscated computers, including photos, videos and links.

Gibb will return to testify for the prosecution when the trial resumes this morning before Judge Edward O’Farrell in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court in New Philadelphia.